MAR 2019
A
M arch is spring-cleaning time, but I’m guessing you don’t need another article devoted to tips for cleaning out your garage or organizing your pantry. Honestly, there are people much more qualified than I to provide hard- and-fast tips for getting rid of your junk. But one thing I do feel knowledgeable discussing is how to remove some of the clutter from your daily routine. We may not think of our habits as things that need to be spring-cleaned, because they don’t take up physical space. In my experience, though, they can slow us down just as much as digging through an endless pile of clean laundry to find an outfit would. A lot of these habits have to do with technology. When it comes to tech, either we use it or it uses us. The endless stream of alerts, emails, and other digital distractions is a type of clutter we’re just now learning how to deal with. With the right tools and attitude, technology can streamline our routines and keep our loved ones looped in. Without them, tech can be more of a headache than it’s worth. The first way to spring-clean your digital life is to unsubscribe from some of those email lists. Nobody reads all of the promotional emails they’re sent, even if they check them all off. If you find yourself mindlessly skipping over a bunch of emails from a particular company, do yourself a favor and unsubscribe. It takes a second and will save you the hassle of sifting through emails you have no desire to read anyway. If your inbox is an endless litany of this stuff, it may be time to start a new one. Once you get past a couple hundred unread emails, the odds of getting back to zero are slim to none. Another way to cut back on the digital debris is to centralize your information in the most important places. For me, the single most important online tool is my Google Calendar. I share it with my entire staff as well as my husband. If they can’t find me, they know to check the calendar. I travel a lot for work, and it’s so TECHNOLOGY CANHELP YOU DECLUTTER BUT ONLY WHEN USED MINDFULLY
much easier to update my calendar than it is to send all my travel information to anyone who might need it. It also limits the chances for miscommunication. You may not use an online calendar, which is perfectly fine. What you should try to do is centralize your online presence to only the most essential tools. It can also help minimize the alerts you receive on your phone to only the most essential apps. I get alerts for Snapchats (more on that later) and text messages, but I don’t need my phone to buzz every time I get a junk email. I do the same thing with nonwork communications. My kids and I stay in touch primarily through a group Snapchat. I can’t pretend I’m any good at using the platform, but I love that I can use it to see my children in their element. It’s much better than having piecemeal conversation through a dozen different means. Of course, in-person conversations are preferable, but that’s hard when you have four children in three different states. Also, I much prefer them to snap me a request for running shoes at 2 a.m. rather than calling me to do so. Look, I’m not going to lie and tell you I’m the world’s most efficient person. I am, however, a pretty busy lady, and I like to think I navigate life well. A lot of that success comes from the fact that I’m always interrogating my digital presence and asking what’s essential and what’s wasteful. In a world where time is increasingly spent online, it’s one of the most valuable types of spring-cleaning you can do.
-Melissa Emery
WWW.EMERYLAWOFF I CE . COM | 1
ARE YOU A MOVIE FANATIC? HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS
and you can also use star-shaped cookie cutters for your desserts. For your libations, you can serve cocktails from famous films and make a martini even James Bond would approve of. 3. TICKETS GALORE! The ticket price for the first motion picture ever shown at the oldest American movie theater cost 15–25 U.S. cents, depending on the location of your seat. Nowadays, the price of watching a film is astronomical. Fortunately, there are ways for you to create the feeling of watching a film premiere
If you’re a big film buff, then there’s a good chance you set aside one important night each spring to watch the Academy Awards. A great number of memorable moments have happened during the Oscars, such as the 2017 “La La Land” best picture mix-up, the 1974 streaking incident when a naked man ran across the stage, or the 2013 falling accident when Jennifer Lawrence tripped as she walked on stage to receive her award for best actress. The Academy Awards is an event you don’t want to miss out on. Here are three ways you can get the most out of Oscars night. 1. PLAY TRIVIA Everyone loves a good trivia challenge. If you and your family watch the ceremony live, you can use the commercial breaks to test your knowledge. Pose questions about the best picture winners over the last 90 years or the actors selected for different categories. You can also find printable Oscars prediction charts and offer prizes to whoever has the highest number of correct answers. 2. THEMED FOOD If you’re throwing an Oscars party, serving some tasty dishes is a must. But why not kick it up a notch and keep your entrees and hors d’oeuvres in line with the blockbuster theme? There are multiple recipes for Oscars-party popcorn online, I have to be honest: I’m the furthest thing in the world from a football expert. Keri, who knows her way around a fantasy football draft, was recently telling me how boring the Super Bowl was this year. “From my perspective,” I told her, “they are all equally boring.” That being said, our office does rely on a concept from football to kick off (sorry for the pun) our day. The first thing we do when everyone gets in the office is hold a morning huddle. It doesn’t take long — we cap it at 15 minutes — but it puts everyone on the same page for the day. Unlike a football huddle, there isn’t one person who calls the play. Instead, we all share three things. First, we share a win from the previous day, whether that’s settling a case or proving one of our clients wasn’t at fault in an accident. Second, we say our top three priorities, which lets everyone know the cases we’re working on. Third, we mention anything we need a hand with. I can’t tell you what a difference it’s made for us. If somebody is swamped and needs a hand, we know to check in with them throughout the day. When I’m totally booked solid, the huddle is where I can tell my
or Oscars ceremony from your own home. Find printable tickets online to distribute to your guests before the showing, and encourage them to dress like they are heading to the red carpet.
WANT TO WORK LIKE A TEAM?
IF SO, CALL YOUR PLAYS IN A HUDDLE
team that I’ll be unavailable for nonemergencies. It’s just incredibly helpful for everyone on staff to share what their plans are for the day.
The best part of the prework huddle is that you can benefit from it no matter where you work. Maybe you won’t be able to get everyone on staff together, but you should at least try it with the people you collaborate most closely with. I would highly recommend asking your manager or boss if you can start hosting these huddles. It won’t take long for them to take root. Odds are your entire workplace will be adopting the strategy in not time. You can also set up a huddle-style meeting at home, perhaps at the dinner table. You can have everyone share the best part of their day, what their top three activities are for the next day, and any struggles they’ve encountered. It may sound a little formal, but I promise it’s mostly just fun. Everyone is busy at work. Taking 15 minutes to simply share your plan for the day may not seem like the most productive use of time, but in my experience, the time you spend in a huddle will allow you to operate more productively and efficiently. That is the definition of time well spent.
2 | call or text ( 502 ) 771 - 1 LAW ( 1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFF I CE.COM
HAVE A LAUGH!
LOUISVILLE’S BEST SPORTS BARS
• 3/4 cup popcorn kernels • 2 tablespoons flaky sea salt Everything is the best bagel flavor. This is not a matter of debate. Sprinkle the seasoning on popcorn for a delicious snack that will have people asking, “What does this remind me of?” INGREDIENTS • 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds • 2 teaspoons white sesame seeds • 2 teaspoons granulated garlic • 2 teaspoons granulated onion • 1/3 cup canola oil • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted EVERYTHING POPCORN Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
GREAT PLACES TO CATCH A GAME
Whether or not you enjoy a cold glass of beer, we can all agree that there are few places more exciting to watch an NCAA Tournament game than a local sports bar. March Madness might as well be the name for a citywide disease that grips Louisville every spring, such is the feverish nature of our college basketball fans. The chief symptoms of this condition include wearing red or blue; spending too much time at work checking your bracket; and sneaking away to one of these awesome local hangouts to catch a game.
GRIFF’S 133 W Liberty St.
Named for and owned by arguably the most famous player in U of L history, there’s no denying that Griff’s favors the Cards over the Wildcats. But don’t worry; even diehard UK fans are welcome at this gleaming, screen-packed sports bar. Another hallmark of Griff’s is the elevated but affordable menu, which features sauces made from scratch and burgers ground in-house daily.
FRANKFORT AVENUE BEER DEPOT 3204 Frankfort Ave.
DIRECTIONS
If you argue that the Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot isn’t technically a sports bar, we’d reply, “Who cares?” There are plenty of TVs, a vast array of beer options, and massive meat smokers in the parking lot. If that’s not a recipe for a great place to enjoy a game, we don’t know what is. While there, be sure to order some of the fried pepper jack cubes, which are like the Kentucky version of mozzarella sticks.
covered, until popcorn kernels start to pop. Once popping, continue cooking and shaking the pan intermittently until popping ceases, about 3–5 minutes.
1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds. Shake skillet often and cook until white seeds are golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and add garlic, onion, and salt. 2. In a large saucepan, combine popcorn kernels and oil. Cook over medium-high heat,
BLUEGRASS BREWING CO. (BBC) Three locations throughout the city
3. Transfer popcorn to a large mixing bowl. Pour in butter and toss to coat. Finally, add
Despite having “brewing” in the name, BBC is known for being a place that caters to adults and children alike. The food menu is stocked with all-American favorites, and the beer list features exclusive selections, as you’d expect from Louisville’s first craft brewery. If you like your sports viewing at an intensity level below fever pitch, BBC is the place for you. Have a favorite place to watch March Madness? Be sure to tell us about it on our Facebook page (@EmeryLawOffice). Don’t forget that alcohol and driving never mix. If you want to enjoy some brews, be sure to call an Uber or bring along a designated driver.
seasoning, toss again, and serve.
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help.
WWW.EMERYLAWOFF I CE . COM | 3
call or text ( 502 ) 771 - 1 LAW ( 1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
CALL OR TEXT ( 502 ) 771 - 1 LAW ( 1529)
4610 OUTER LOOP LOUISVI LLE, KY 40219
SPRING-CLEAN YOUR TECH 1 INSIDE
MAKE THE MOST OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS A GREAT WAY TO START YOUR WORKDAY 2 THE BEST PLACES TO WATCH MARCH MADNESS EVERYTHING POPCORN 3 CELEBRATE DR. SEUSS 4
1 BOOK, 2 BOOK
WHO WAS THEODOR GEISEL?
O n March 2, Read Across America Day is celebrated by students, teachers, and community members in towns throughout the country. They chose that date to pay homage to one of the most beloved children’s authors who was born that day: Theodor Geisel. That name may sound unfamiliar to you, but “Dr. Seuss” should ring a few bells.
children’s book, “And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” was denied by more than a dozen publishers. Legend has it that Seuss was on his way home to burn the manuscript when he ran into an old friend who suggested another publisher. The rest is history. Given the enthusiasm for reading Dr. Seuss has fostered in children for the past eight decades, it’s no wonder the National Education Association chose his birthday to mark a day dedicated to celebrating reading. After all, he’s often quoted as saying, “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.”
His name alone is so associated with literacy that in 2007, the author of an article in U.S. News & World Report that chronicled the history of 1957 — the year “The Cat in the Hat” was published — wrote, “Greece had Zeus — America has Seuss.” In 2001, Publisher’s Weekly released a list of the bestselling hardcover children’s books of all time in the U.S. Of the books in the top 100, Seuss authored 16, which is more than any other author on the list by a long shot. But Seuss did not break into the children’s literature industry easily.
Seuss and his nearly 50 children’s books almost never got off the ground. His first
4 | WWW.EMERYLAWOFF I CE . COM
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Annual report